TR: Cave Hill, Belfast.

[email hidden] said...

Quoted message said:

In summary, it wouldn't be worth travelling from this side of the
Irish Sea to visit Cave Hill but it would make a pleasant afternoon
stroll if you found yourself in Belfast on a sunny day.

It sounds lovely! I take it they're having better weather
there than we are here? It's been perishing cold in south
Wales, so it has.
--
If you can keep your head when all around are losing theirs...
then you've failed to grasp some important aspect of the
situation.

Thanks for posting that!

I've been to Belfast several times in the last few months. When on the
bus ride from Belfast International into the town centre those hills to
the west of the motorway on the approach have held my attention.

Did you also visit Collinward & Squires Hill?

Fran said:

Quoted message said:

In summary, it wouldn't be worth travelling from this side of the
Irish Sea to visit Cave Hill but it would make a pleasant afternoon
stroll if you found yourself in Belfast on a sunny day.

It sounds lovely! I take it they're having better weather
there than we are here? It's been perishing cold in south
Wales, so it has.

The weather was cold but we had glorious sun on Saturday morning. It
really was a lovely day.

It's all been sleety slushy gloom now I'm back home. :-(

Judith

email hidden said:

I've been to Belfast several times in the last few months. When on the
bus ride from Belfast International into the town centre those hills to
the west of the motorway on the approach have held my attention.

Yes, me too. They look very tempting.

Quoted message said:

Did you also visit Collinward & Squires Hill?

No, well I don't think so. Have you been there? Are they worth a
visit?

I had plans for the rest of my time, so could only spare a morning for
a walk.

Judith

Judith said:

I took some photos but I'm having trouble with FTP tonight, so will
try posting them again some other time.

FTP is working tonight so I've put a few snaps in the Belfast folder
at http://hometown.aol.com/goofif

Judith

Cheers....next time I'm in Belfast I'll try and make time to have a
stroll towards Cave Hill....

Glad you enjoyed your walk up cave hill, an alternative start is from
the Belfast Zoo car park, just past the Zoo entrance and to the right.
From that point you can go up to the top of the hill, down the other
side and back by Castle grounds and zoo perimeter fence or back
towards Belfast from Castle grounds. For geocachers there is one on
Cave Hill.

Johnston

Judith said:

*Two* TRs in one day. You lucky people, so you are.

I've just spent a couple of days in Belfast and, being able to see a
hill from my B&B window, was tempted to go for a walk.

Dressed in my Aldi boots, fleece & waterproof (and some non-Aldi
trousers) I walked up the Antrim road towards the Cave Hill Country
Park. It was a pleasant clear winter day and I wished I'd brought my
sunglasses.

The Country Park is clearly signposted and I followed the signs to the
Park and Castle which took me up a fairly steep driveway. Eventually
there was a bench at the side of the driveway so I had a quick sit
down and wondered whether there used to be a good view out to sea from
here before the trees grew in the way.

All the way up, cars had been overtaking me and I soon realised why
when I reached the Castle carpark. There was a group of around a
dozen people lacing up their hiking boots and preparing to walk up the
hill.

Intending to let the group set off before me, I took a walk round the
cat garden. I half-heartedly tried to find all of the cats but really
was just enjoying having the sun shining on me.

I went back to the carpark and the group was still there, so I started
without them. The lower park of the hill is wooded and quite steep
so, despite the shade from the trees, I soon took off the waterproof.
The group overtook me on the first steep bit but we kept taking it in
turns to stop for a breather and overtake each other.

I considering going into the cave but got a bit worried about the
monsters lurking therein so hurried quickly past. Maybe next time.

MacArt's fort was not what I was expecting. I thought there would be
some remains of a stone building, but it was just a rocky outcrop from
which I could see for miles.

The far side of the hill was sunny and sheltered ..... and was all
down hill. I passed lots of dog walkers and a few joggers. This is
obviously a "local" hill used by local people.

I could see other hills, some rolling and some pointy, but time didn't
permit visiting them this time. Besides, I only have a street map of
Belfast and didn't want to wander too far from the beaten track.

In summary, it wouldn't be worth travelling from this side of the
Irish Sea to visit Cave Hill but it would make a pleasant afternoon
stroll if you found yourself in Belfast on a sunny day.

I took some photos but I'm having trouble with FTP tonight, so will
try posting them again some other time.

Judith